Method and apparatus for treating gases and gaseous substances



1922. 4 SHEETS-SHEET l.

Patented July 11 A.' B. LAMB. METHOD AND ADPARATUS FOR T R-ljIATING GASES AND GASEOUS SBSTANCES. APPLvlCTJN FILED MAY 3|. i919.- I

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Mm WU A. B. LAMB.

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TREATING GASES AND GASEDUS SUBSTANGES. APILICATION FILED MAY 3l. 1919.

1,422,211, Patentedxuly 11,1922.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

I A 'Q s Q r Swoon/hoz Mgg@ A. B., LAMB..

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TREATING. GASES AND GASEOUS SUBSTANCES. APPLICATION FILED MAY 311.1919.

, 1,422,21 1 l Patented July u, 1922.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Inventoz @wozu m A. Bl LAMB. METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TREATING GASES AND GASEOUS SUBSTANCES. APPLICATION FILED NIAY3I, I9I9- 1,422,211. Patented July 11, 1922.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

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ARTHUR n. LAMB, or wAsmNGToN, DISTRICT or COLUMBIA.

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TREATING GASES' AND GASEOUS SUBSTANCES.

Application led May .31,

. post-ofhce address 'is Cosmos Club, Washington, D. C.), have invented a new and useful Method and Apparatus for Treating Gases and Gaseous Substances, of which the following is a specilication.

This invention relates to methods and api4 paratus for treating gases and gaseous substances.

Y Among the objects of this invention is vto provide a'method and means for eliminating toxic and harmful materials, such as poisonous gases and other gases which are injurious to animals from airv and gas mixtures. Another object of this inventionis to provide va process and apparatus for purifying vair beforeit enters the respiratory organs of animals. v

A- further object of this invention is to "provide a canister with an eiiicient sorbent for gases; also, with means for delivering air vwhich. is passed through the respirator at an agreeable temperature for breathing.

A further object of this invention is to provide respirators with detachable sections c onltaining sorbing and desiccating matef ria s.

Reference is to be had to the'accompany- .ing drawings whi-ch show certain types of apparatus embraced in this inventiony and also disclose certain novel features thereof.

Fig. 1 is a'vertical section through a'canister providedwith a cooling device for the outgoing gases.

Fig. 1a is a -vertical sectionof a partof the canister Where the gasesV leave' the same and illustrates a .conventional methodl of preventing Water romzthe cooling device for; the outgoing gases dropping into the drier position dbelow the cooler.

Fig. 2 is a similar View in which a modi- Figs. 3 to 6 show modified forms of can.

isters embodling lthe novel features of this invention.

Fi .3a is a fragmental section of a canister 1llustrating the use of an indicator with said canister for detecting the condition of hydration vof the hydrating material.

Speciticationr of Letters Patent.

1919. Serial No. 301,017.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, air is drawn into the canister at (1) and passes through the filter (2) into the neck (3) from Where it enters the canister- (4) by way of the valve (5). The filter (2) is preferably of felt or paper, although any other suitable filter may be employed, and in order to keep the lter (2) in proper shape a support of perforated orreticulated material (2a) is provided. The valve (5) may beof the ordinary Hap-valve type.

The canister (4) is provided with gas treating materials vwhich are placed close to Patented July 11, M922.

each other. In Fig. 1, there are shown the oxide sorbents may be used in place of theL charcoal and that the hopcalite may be' used mixed with other sorbent materials. The sections of gas treating material are placed close to each other so that thegases u n leaving one of the gas treating materials soon come in contant with the next treater,

and these sections of gas treating material are held close to vether by means of the spring (10)', whic rests' -upon a p'ad of cotton wool or similar material' (11) placed on top of the section'containing the drying material in Fig. 1, or, when this drying ma- .terial Vis omitted, on top of the section 'containing the hopcalite sorbent, the other end of the spring (10) bearing against the top ofthe 'canister (4). The pad [(11) serves to keep .the material 'in the top section of the A canister from falling into the neck (12).

The gases upon entering the canister pass through the treat/ing materials contained therein and may be then. filtered through a flter'(11*), shown in Fig. 2,U which'ilter may be similar't the 'filter (2)', and then pass out by way ofthe neck 12) tothe pipe or tube (13) leading to the respirator. The gases 0n passing through the neck (12) are cooled by some suitable means. In Fig. 1 there is shown asponge which contains a cooling liquid, and when this t pe of cooler' is used provision should be ma e to keep the liquid from dropping into the drying material within the canister. A convenient means for accomplishingv this is shown in Fig. 1, Here the outlet tube (13) extends into a special compartment (12a) within the neck portion (12) which holds the sponge carrying the cooling liquid. In Fig. 2 the cooling means consists of plates (14) of large area and of good heat conducting material, upon the neck (12). l

This invention contemplates the use of any cooling means in which a change of state is involved. By change of state is meant from liquid to gas, or vice versa, Jfrom solid to liquid or vice versa, from a solid to another solid where there is a change in crystal form, or from a solid to another solid where the Water of crystallization undergoes a change.. y

The canister may be vprovided with a valve (15) for the outgoing gases, as shown in Fig. 1.'

The gases or air which are treated bypassing first through a filter, are relieved of suspended material contained therein. Whether or not this suspended matter would otherwise be removed from the gases in passing through the canister, the preliminary filtering action is desirable. This filter has been found to remove dust and smoke particles which would not be removed by the gasy treating'materials; also, by keeping these objectionable materials away from the lgas treating materials the life ofthe latteris extended. l

After filtration the gases are dried by means of the drying material (6) which may be calcium chloride or any other suitable de.- hydrating material. The gases then pass on to the protective sorbent (7) which may consist of dry charcoal, other suitable carbonaceous material or sorbent material and which serves as a protection. against toxic' gases and other substances whlch might tend to poison the liopcalite sorbent, to the action-of which the gases are next subjected. The hopcalitc. which is described i`n Patent No. 1,345,323 to J.C. W. Frazer'and C. C. Scalione, consists of'a mixture of oxides and has the power of selectively sorb- .ing certain constituents of gas mixtures.

Briefly, the hopcalite is composed of metal oxides or basic sulphates, acetates or carbonates of the more common metals singly or in admiixture, which compounds have been prepared in an extremely fine state of subdivision,- collected and dried at a lowtemperature.

Among the metals whose oxides, lbasic `carbonates, basic acetates and basic sulphates that have been found useful for the present purposes when properly prepared, are manganese, cobalt, copper, iron, nickel,

' bismuth, lead and silver alnd it may be stated as a general rule that mixtures of two or of mixtures, the constituents must be intimately mixed, and third that the compounds be carefully dried at low temperature. 1f the drying is carried out at high temperature, the structure of the produc-t is so modified that the activity is greatly decreased, and in many instances' are entirely destroyed.

An example of preparing a single oxide is to gradually add a solution of oxalic acid *toa 3 or 4% solutionof permanganic acid, the quantity of oxaliC-acid being just sufficientto reduce the permanganic acid to manga'nese dioxide. The whole is kept cool. below 250 C.- After standing,1the manganese dioxide is filtered by suction. If there is found in the filtrate an excess of either reagent, the manganese dioxide is washed free of this, finely filtered and left as a cpaste. This paste may then be dried at or below 200 C.`

Another method of preparing manganese dioxide is to add powdered anhydrous manganese sulphate with constant` stirring to moderately strong sulphuric acid, (G0-80% To the mixture addpowdered potassium permanganate in small excess over the theoretical ratio-2 mols. KMnO, to 3 mols. MnSO4. After a few minutes, pour the mixture into a large volume of cold water. Hydrated manganese dioxide is rapidly precipitated. The hydrated oxide is then-washed free of vsulphate and acid, collected in a filter press and dried at about 200o C. The dried cake is'the'n` crushed and screened to size lproducing a hard, very porous material. v

Copper oxide maybe prepared by precipitating directly a concentrated copper salt solution with a slight excess of a concentrated solution of sodium hydroxide or carbonate. The precipitate is washed until free of sulphate (if copper sulphate is used as a starting material) and alkali, collected in a filter press and dried at'120o (l.

Cobaltic oxide'is prepared by adding to a concentrated solution of a cobaltous salt at room temperature` a solution containing sodium hydroxide and hypochlorite until an excess of. both arepresent. The mixture is then allowed to stand for about one-half hour, during which-'time .much ofthe excess of hypochlorite is decomposed with evolu-v tion of oxygen. The precipitate is then washed until the wash water is free from chloride and alkali, collected in a filter press and dried at about 200 C.

A product consisting of the mixed oxides of manganese and silver may be made by taking an .amount of the manganese dioxide paste, above described, equivalent to 10 grams of dry manganese dioxide and suspending same in 600 cc. of distilled water. Sufiicient silver nitrate is added to give 6 grams of silver oxide. Then sodium hy droxide is added toslight excess with vi orousA stirring, thereby precipitating si ver oxide. After settling, the material is washed three. times by decantation and filtered by suction. The paste is dried, first on a Water bathand then onfan oil bath of 130 C. in a current of dry air or oxygen. The drying 'is continued .until no molsture appears on a cold mirror held in the efiiuent gas. A composition composed of a mixture of compounds above mentioned may also be obtained by precipitating'simultaneously the several compounds from-mixtures of the soluble salts in solution, for instance, Vthe oxides of silver', copper, iron, nickel, cobalt, manganese' and others, or any two or more of them may be precipitated by adding the causticl alkali to a mixture of their soluble salts in solution and after washing the precipitate, filtering and drying, as above 'indicated.

Further, suitable mixtures may be made by preparing separately the several constitu- "ents 1n extremely finely divided conditions and after intimately mixing, drying at low temperatures, as indicated.

It should be noted that the drying ofthe paste should be carried out at such temperatures as will not change materially the physical structure of the particles and should also be continued luntil all of the occluded moisture and a part ofthelwa'ter of hydration is removed. Suitable temperatures for this drying step'have already been indicated 5 in the specific example butf l lcourse, will vary with the compositionV of the material. These ltemperatures shoul in all cases. not exceedv about 225-250 C.A at

' atmosphericpressure. This drying step is 'essential ,to the activity of the material at very low temperatures.

The gases -upon leaving "the hopcalite sorbent may be first dried, as shown in Fig. 1, or. else directly passed on to the filterl (11) which serves to remove any-"'-dust vwhich the'v gases may have taken up from' the s'orbents, pass on through the cooling chamber (12).

In the modified forms of canistersshown in Figs. 3 and 4, the gas treating materials ofthe canisters. Any suitable number of these cartridges 'may be used in a single canister, depending, of course, on the treatment that is desired to be given to the gases. These cartridges have central spaces (18), commonly referred to as breathing tubes, through which the gases pass before coming in contact with the treating materials, which are kept within reticulated or perforated casings. The gases pass from the central spaces through the central open Work casing and then come in Contact with the gas treating material and then through the outer perforated or reticulated casing.

The central spaces or breathing tubes (18) present a greater area for entrance of the gases which are exposed to the action of the gas treating materials and have the effect of promoting the efiiciency of the gas treating materials in that practically all ofthe gas treating material in the cartridges is brought in contact with the gases. 1n Figs. 3 and 4 the breathing tube is shown on the side of the cartridge where the gases enter same, butv it lmay also advantageously be located on the outgoing side, as shown in Fig. 6.

The cartridges (16) are separated from each other and :from the ends of the canister by gaskets (19), having a central opening. In Fig. 3, there is shown the spring (20) which forces' the cartridges close to each other. The spring (21) shown in Fig. 4 holds the reticulated or perforated material or gauze' (22) dow'n on the gas treatingma- -terial within the cartridge. Springs serving each of these purposes. can be used in the same canister, if desired. A pad (23) of cotton, asbestos or other suitable material is yprovided at the top for filtering the outgoing gases, and if desirable a similar` pad may be provided for filtering the incoming` In the type of canister illustrated in'F'ig. 5 v

the important feature consists in making certain parts of the individual sections of' the canister of such size that a definite order must be followed inassembling the parts of the canister. This feature is often very important, especially, when the assembling is done in haste or by unskilled personsand where it is'desired that a certain sequence inA the treatment of the gases be followed. In this view, the canister is shown as .made up of two removable sections upon lwhich the ends of the canister are screwed on, andthe individual sections are screwed on to each other. By making the yopenings (27), l

and (29) of different sizes the manner 1n which the various sections may be assembled is restricted to a definite order. With this type of canister the individual sections containing the desired treating materials can be stored separately, and independently from the cover portions (30) and (3l) and assembled vvlhenever needed. This facilitates storage and transportation. Any desiredl num'ber of sections containing treat' g material may be used in this type of canister and the sections may be constructed as shown in Fig. 5 or else may have the central opening and reticulated or perforated structure shown in Figs. 3 and 4. Although the type of canister shown in Fig. 5 is particularly adapted for circular canisters it is obvious that by suitable modifications, for instance, by substituting the fastening means shown inFig. 3, other shaped canisters can be made.

It has been found that the life of the sorbent materials, especially the hopcalite, used in canisters is frequently much greater' than that of the dehydrating agents. such as cal^ cium chloride. Advantage of this fact may be taken in the constructionof the canister. In the canister illustrated in Fig.- 6 the section (32) containing the dehydrating material is detachable from the main portion (33) of the canister, to which it is tted in the manner shown -at (34). The portion (33)` contains 'the sorbents. Since the sorbent material can be used for much greater length of time than the drying material, thecanister may be so constructed as to have the parts containing the sorbent materials inseparable f-rom the main portion of the canister, only the portions containing the dehydrated material being detachable.

This invention 'contemplates 1 the useV of sorbent, oxidizing, catalytic material. such as hopcalite With or Without a drier. If the sorbent, oxidizing catalyst, such as hopcalite is maintained at tempera-tures otGO to 175 C. it will oXidize certain gases, for example,

"heating is discontinued after the catalyst is heated up to the desired temperature. It is to J'be understood that With a portable type of'icanister the source of electricity would also'beportab'le.

l Thi inventlon contemplates the use of an indicator in connection with the dehydrating `material in order to show when such de,-

. hydrating material is nearing exhaustion.

This indicator may operate by change of color.v A speciicexample of using the indicator is Fig. 3 wherein a paper (22a) colored with cobalt chloride isplaced on top of the screen above the drier on one of the detachable sections of the canister containing Ithe dehydrating material. lI do not Wish to be limited, however, to the use of this particular indicator, `because it may be read- -ily observed that other devices could be substituted Without changing the spirit of thel invention.

Some of the gases and vapors which may be removed from air. and other gaseous mixtures are illustrated in Patent No. 1,345,323 on hopcalite and its method of preparation and include carbon monoxide, ammonia. sulphur dioxide, aldehydes, alcohols, toluene, ett-...but it is to be understood' that this invention lnay be 'applied to the removal 4of many other gases which are objectionable, injurious or toxic, which are acted upon by the sorbent oxidizing catalyst as above described.

In the foregoing description and appended claims sorptiom sorbent and sorbing include the phenomena of absorption, adsorption or both.

This invention is not limited to the specific details set forth in the foregoing examples which should be construed as illustrative and not by way of limitation, and in view ot' the numerous modifications which may be effected therein Without departing Jfrom the spirit and scope of this invention, it is desired that only such limitations be imposed are are indicated in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. Asa means for treating gases, a canister containing sorbent, oxidizing catalyst.

2. As a means for treating gases, a. canister containing hopcalite. f

3. Means forgtreating gases comprising detachable sections, some of said sections containing sorbent, oxidizing catalyst.

4. Means for treating gases comprising' detachable cartridges, some ofr said 'cartridges containing thopcalite. l

5. As a means for treating gases, a combination of 'drying material and, gas sorbentscomprising sorbent, oxidizing catalystv i gp so arranged that the gaseslpassrst through the drying material and then throughl the sorbents.

6. As a means for treating gases, la comother and so arranged that the. gases pass first through the dehydrator, vthen through 8. In an apparatus for treating gases, a combination of a dehydrator and gas sorbent material comprising hopcalite so arranged that the gases pass first through the dehydrator 'and then through the sorbent material and means for vfiltering the gases before reaching the dehydrator.

9. In an apparatus for treatin gases, a combination of' a dehydrator an gas sorbent material comprising hopcalite so, arranged that the gases pass first through the dehydrator and then through the sorbent material, and means for filtering the dried, unsorbed gas as its. issues from thesorbent material.

10. An .apparatus for treating gases 'comprising asection containing a dehydrator, a section containingv sorbent, oxidizing, catalytic material and a section containing another sorbent, the said sections being detachable, in close proximity to eachother and so arranged that gases'pass first through the dehydrator, then through the last-named sorbent and then through the sorbent, oxidizing, catalytic material.

11.An apparatus for treatin gases comprisking a section containing a ehydrator, a section containing sorbent carbon and another` section containing'sorbent, oxidizing, catalytic material, the, said sections being detachable, 4 in closel proximity to each other and so arranged that gases pass first through ythe dehydrator, then through the carbon and then through the sorbent, oxidizing, catalytic material. v

12. An apparatusv for treating gases comprising a cartridge containing a dehydrator,

a cartridge containingsorbent 'charcoal and a cartridge containing a sorbent, oxidizing, catalytic material, the said cartridges being in close proximity to each other and so'arranged that the gases pass first through the dehydrator, then through` the charcoal and then through the sorbent, oxidizing,

. 13.`A.n apparatus for treating gasesconiprising a cartridge containing a dehydrator,

-\ Y--1naterial.,Y

, a cartridge containing sorbent charcoal and a-cart'ridge containing hopcalite, the'said cartridges being in close proximity-to each the-charcoal and then through the hopcalite.

f 14. Anapparatus for treating gases comprising a lter, a section containing a dehydrator, a section containing sorbent,

.oxidizing, catalytic material, and a section1 containing another sorbent, the said sections and, filter being-in close proximity to each other and so arranged that gases pass first through the filter, then through the dehydrathen through the sorbent, oxidizing, catalytic Aers may 15. ArnoA apparatus for yl-treatinggase@ com prisingl'a pair of filters, a section containing drying material, a section containing sorbent, oxidizing catalyst and a section containing another sorbent, the elements of the apparatus being so arranged that the gases pass first through one of the filters, then through the drier, then through the lastnamed sorbent, then through the sorbent, oxidizing, catalytic material and then through the other filter. I

16. In an apparatus for treating gases, a pair of filters, a section containing drying material, a section containing sorbent carbon and a section containing hopcalite, the said sections being detachable and in close proximity to each other and the arrangement of the elements being such that the gases pass first through one of the filters, then through the drier, then through the carbon, then through the hopcalite and then through the other filter.

17. In combination a/plurality of cartridges containing gas treating materials, said.cartridges being fitted to' and detachable nfrom each other and provided with means whereby the fitting of the cartridges to each other is restricted t adefinite manner, and a jacketed cooler for the treated gases.

18. In an apparatus for treating gases, individual holders containing drying linaterial, sorbent, oxidizing, catalytic material and another sorbent, the said holders being detachable from eacli other and from the rest of the apparatusgand .disposed so that the last-named sorbent is placed in close proximity to the drying material and to the sorbent, oxidizing, catalytic material and means whereby the said holders may be fitted to each other in a definite manner only.

19. In an vapparatus for treating gases, individual holders containing drying material, sorbent carbon and hopcalite, the said holders'being detachable from each other and from the rest o fthe apparatus and disposed so'that the 'carbon is placed in close proximity .to .the drying material and to the hopcalite and means whereby the said holdbe fittedf to each otherpin a definite manner only.

20. An apparatus for treating gases comprising a cartridge containing drying m a terial, a cartridgecontaining sorbent, oxidiz-y v ing, catalytic materia'hfa cartridge containv ing another sorbent, a cooling device and a pair-'of lters, the elements'of the-apparatus being sol arran ed that thegases pass first through one of t e? filters, then through the drying material,- thenfthrough the lastnamed sorbent .then -throu h the sorbent,l

oxidizing, catalytic materia, then through the other filter and then-through the cooler. l l

21. In an apparatus for treating gases, a

' pair of filters, a cartridgecontaining a drying mate al, another'cartridge containing sorbent carbon and another cartridge containing hopcalite, the said cartridges'being detachable and in close proximity to each other, and a cooler, the arrangement of the elements of the apparatus being such that the gases pass first through one filter, then through the drying material, then through the carbon, then through the hopcalite, then vthrough the other filter and then through the cooler.

22. In combination cartridges separately holding drying material, sorbent, oxidizing,

catalytic material and another sorbent, the said cartridges being detachable from each other and -from the rest of' the apparatus and disposed so that the last-named sorbent is in close proximit to the sorbent, oxidizing, catalytic material andthe drier, means whereby the cartridges may be fitted to each other in a definite manner only and means for filtering gases passing through ing, catalytic material, s aid section having an inner breathing opening.

25. In an apparatus for treating gases, a plurality of sections containing gas treating materials, saidsections. having central breathing spaces and being detachable from eachother.

26. In `an apparatus for treating gases, a plurality o f cartridges containing gas treatingfmaterials said cartridges having cenftral breathin spaces and being detachable from each ot er.

27.- Inai'i apparatus for treating gases, a

canister containin sorbent, oxidizing, catalytic material an means for heating said material.

28. In an apparatus for treating gases, a holder containing hopcalite and means for heating said hopcalite.

F29. In'an apparatus for treating gases, a holder containing sorbent, oxidizing, catalytic material, a holder containing dry maf terial and means for heating said sorbent material.

30. In an apparatus' for treating gases, holders containing separately drying material, sorbent,A oxidizing, catalytic material and another sorbent andl means for heating.Y

said sorbent, oxidizing, catalytic material. 31.'.In an apparatus .for treating gases, holders containing separately drying ma terial, sorbent carbon and `hopcalite and means for heating said hopcalite.

32. An apparatus for treating gases comprising a holder containing sorbent, oxidizing, catalytic material, andv a. detachable holder containing drying material.

33. In a process of treating gases, assing said gases through drying materia then through a sorbent, then through a sorbent material containing sorbent, oxidizing catalyst.

34. In a process of treating gases, passing saidgases through drying material, then through sorbent carbon and then through sorbent material containing hopcalite.

35.' In a process of treating gases, filtering said gases, then passing same through a drier, then through sorbent material including sorbent, oxidizing catalyst and then again filtering said gases.

36. In a -process of treating gases, filtering said gases, then passing same through a drier, then through sorbent material including hopcalite and then again filtering said gases.

37. In a process of treating gases, passing same through a drier, then through a sorbent, then through a sorbent 'material containing sorbent, oxidizing catalyst and then through av cooler.

38. In a process of treat-ing gases, passing same through a drier, then through sorbent carbon,then through sorbent material containing hopcalite and then through a cooler.

39. In a process of treating gases, filtering said gases, passing same through drying material, then through sorbent material, then through heated, sorbent material containing sorbent, oxidizing catalyst and final- 1y cooling the said gases.

40. In a process of treating gases, filtering said gases, passing same tlirough drying material', then through sorbent carbon, then through heated, sorbent'material containing sorbent, oxidizing catalyst and finally cooling the said gases. l41. In a process of treating gases, filtering said gases, passing same through drying material, then through sorbent material,

`then through heated, 'sorbent material con-i vtaining hopcalite v and finally .cooling the said gases.

42. In aproc'ess of treating gases, filtering said gases, passing same through drying;

material, then through vsorbent carbon, then through heated, sorbent materiale containing -hopcalite and finally cooling the said gases.

43. In a process of treating gases, filtering saidA gases, passing same through dryin material, then through` sorbent charcoa then through heated, sorbent material containing hopcalite andffinally cooling the` said gases. 

